Ghana beat Burkina Faso 1-0 to reach last eight

LUANDA, (Reuters) – Depleted Ghana beat Burkina Faso  1-0 on yesterday to advance to the African Nations Cup  quarter-finals.

Dede Ayew, whose father Abedi Pele was the pivotal figure  when Ghana last won the trophy in 1982, headed the only goal on  the half-hour to help his side finish second behind Group B  winners Ivory Coast.

Burkina Faso, who needed a draw to qualify, were eliminated.  They had 10 men for the last 24 minutes after Mamadou Tall was  sent off.

Ghana now play hosts Angola in the quarter-finals in Luanda  on Sunday.

After the unmarked Ayew struck, Ghana squandered several  chances to add to their goal tally.

Burkina Faso, who finished bottom of a group reduced to  three teams after Togo’s withdrawal following the deadly gun  attack on their bus, tried to force an equaliser but only winger  Jonathan Pitroipa was able to penetrate Ghana’s defence and  create half-chances.

Tall was dismissed after he collected a second yellow card.

“It was a very important match for our young team and it was  both physically and psychologically tough,” Ghana coach Milovan  Rajevac told reporters.

Rajevac lost several players before the start of the  tournament and has since seen captain Michael Essien injure his  knee in training.

Essien watched from the stands after deciding to stay and  support his team mates rather than return immediately to his  club side Chelsea.

Ivory Coast will meet Algeria in their quarter-final in  Cabinda on Sunday.